New Wellness Goals and Trends for 2024
2024 is a new year, and a lot of us are making wellness-related resolutions. Goals are, of course, even better. So, what kind of trends are we seeing in 2024? What should you be thinking about?
Are there any ideas you can take on to improve your wellness and mood in 2024?
75 Hard and 75 Soft
75 Hard is a challenge that some people have set themselves. It means that for 75 days in a row, no matter what, you:
Follow a diet or nutritional plan and avoid alcohol. Absolutely no cheating.
Do 2 45-minute workouts every day, one of which must be outside
Drink 1 gallon of water a day
Read 10 pages of a self help book
Take a progress photo every day
The point is to improve your willpower and find sustainable habits. However, for most people, 75 Hard is too much. If you break a rule you have to start over. One sip of wine? Start over. Don't have time to work out because of a work deadline? Start over. Get sick? Start over... You can't take any rest days on the workouts, which is actually bad for you, and if a beginner tries to jump straight to 90 minutes a day, they are very likely to get hurt.
The newer trend is a modified version that is more accessible, called 75 Soft. 75 Soft has four rules, which are:
Eat healthier and only drink, if you drink, during social occasions
Exercise for 45 minutes 6 days a week, with one day for recovery (on which you should do light exercise such as stretching or walking)
Drink 3 liters of water
Read 10 pages of a book. Any book.
You aren't penalized if you skip a step because, say, you were at a party and ate junk food. It's a much more reasonable thing to try out, although if you don't work out at all, you may want to build up to the 45 minute workouts to avoid injury. Some people do 75 Soft and then if they manage it, "level up" to 75 hard.
The Year of Running
Another challenge which is circulating is the 2024 in 2024 running challenge. There's a company that charges you to do this, which might be useful if you want accountability.
Running 2,000 miles sounds like a lot, and it works out to between 5 and 6 miles a day, and as you don't want to run every day, this is definitely a challenge for somebody with a running goal, such as aiming for your first marathon.
But you can always set yourself a more reasonable goal, such as 500 miles, or maybe doing your first 5k. (If you are ready to go for the marathon, of course, do it!). Running is a great way to get yourself active and outdoors.
Sleep Tourism
Most of us don't get enough sleep, and "sleep tourism" is now gaining momentum. This might mean going to a spa and getting sleep-focused treatments...or just spending a night in a hotel while somebody else watches the kids.
Of course, if you need to go somewhere else to sleep, you might be better off finding more sustainable ways to improve your sleep hygiene. But we mention this trend because sometimes you do want to go somewhere just to relax and do nothing for a bit. A related trend is "dolce far niente," which is Italian for "the sweetness of doing nothing." A lot of us are over-scheduled.
Scheduling time to do absolutely nothing is probably a good idea for all of us.
Rucking
Rucking is not the same thing as hiking. Rucking is walking in rough terrain with an intentionally heavy backpack, with a goal distance and time. This is seen as having a lot of health benefits. It's something the military does to train soldiers, but more and more people are doing it just to improve their fitness. All you need is a backpack and good hiking boots (and socks) to start out with. Then you increase the weight you carry, which builds strength in your hips and legs.
It's also a great social activity and people sometimes do rucking events for memorials or celebrations or, of course, for charity. It's worth a try, especially if you live somewhere with good trails!
Knockout Workouts
Some experts are predicting that "knockout workouts" are going to be really popular in 2024. What's a knockout workout? It's an exercise routine that includes combat sports. More and more people are taking up martial arts such as jiu-jitsu or kickboxing. But you don't have to actually fight.
A knockout workout includes moves from martial arts, including shadow boxing, to develop a full-body workout. It's good for overall fitness...and also you can pretend you are beating up the last person who annoyed you, which can have mental health benefits.
Mocktails and Sober-Curious
Mocktails might not seem like a wellness trend, but with more and more people drinking less frequently, or not at all, fancy mocktails are taking up an increasing percentage. There's also a movement to provide fun, fancy alternatives for those who don't or can't drink at weddings and parties.
Mocktails help normalize being sober and can even get drinkers to drink less (by encouraging them to try the mocktails instead). Be aware that mocktails still often have a lot of sugar in them.
But more and more restaurants are offering mocktails and low alcohol cocktails and they are showing up as signature drinks at events. Definitely a trend to watch.
Holistic Wellness
Finally, the ongoing trend is to see wellness as more holistic. Physical and mental health are no longer seen as separate things, but aspects of a hole.
Wellness professionals may help people with skin care or beauty, but also give them advice on lifestyle changes and what wellness trends might fit well into their lifestyle. Wellness is meant to be holistic and sustainable.
At Quil Studios we offer space for wellness professionals to do their thing...without having to book an entire office. We have shared waiting rooms and other common areas, and aesthetically beautiful spaces to welcome your clients. Rent a studio from Quil and all you have to worry about is making people healthier.